Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi, visited Brussels on Monday as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy. During the visit, Fatemi held meetings with Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs and Dirk Achten, Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition to exchange of views on bilateral relations, the Special Assistant briefed his interlocutors about Pakistan's application for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and sought Belgium's support in this regard. Presenting Pakistan's point of view, the Special Assistant reiterated that Pakistan's application for the NSG was based on solid grounds of technical experience, capability and commitment to nuclear safety and security.
Fatemi emphasized the need for adopting a non-discriminatory and objective approach while considering membership applications for NSG, as this issue directly impacted the strategic stability in South Asia as well as the future of the global non-proliferation regime. The Belgian side was also apprised about the current situation in Kashmir. The Special Assistant voiced Pakistan's deep concern about the massive human rights violations being committed by the Indian security forces in occupied Kashmir.
He urged the international community to play its role in urging India to respect the basic rights of the people of the occupied Kashmir to ensure their right to self determination, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.-PR